The First Salute

Night had probably grown very deep. Dozens of helicopters circled in the night sky. Aboard one helicopter belonging to the Rejecters, Lao Jian, Milla, Shen Yixiu, and He Tangtang—just like everyone else at that moment—raised their hands in salute to their squad member, their teammate. What set them apart was that while they smiled, some of them choked back tears. A moment ago, hearing Qingzi's voice over the communicator had finally allowed them to relax, releasing their pent-up emotions. They had all been frightened half to death. Milla saluted with one hand while using her sleeve to wipe away tears with the other. "I'm never staying behind on watch by myself again," Shen Yixiu thought, gripped by lingering fear and a touch of anger. "I clearly should have been in that fight too. Serves you right for leaving me behind..." He Tangtang was thinking the exact same thing. Surging with pride and heartache, Captain Lao desperately wanted to say something—first to Han Qingyu, then to the senior commanders up top. But right now, this was an all-sector broadcast; under standard protocol, his rank and post did not give him permission to speak. Captain Lao was burning with impatience. If only he were the captain of a color Eraser squad, he would have had speaking privileges in a situation like this. Aboard another helicopter, Shao Xuan, captain of the Golden Eraser squad, who was preparing to skydive, turned around and raised his hand in a salute. Lowering his arm, he looked back at the warriors of the Golden Eraser behind him and smiled. "Squad 1777, our brother squad. Qin Guowen is still over there. Looks like that kid might really not want to come back, haha..." Shao Xuan paused, then said seriously, "Because before long, our Ninth Army might just gain another color Eraser squad." Aboard yet another helicopter, some members of the White Eraser squad, worried they wouldn't arrive in time for the mop-up operation, also raised their hands in salute together—even if they usually weren't fond of the name that had just echoed over the communicator. The battered jeep still tore along the winding mountain road, just as they had driven earlier—racing desperately for their lives, fighting their way back to Medical Station 101. Of the three inside the vehicle, two were covered in blood. Exhaustion dragged heavily at Han Qingyu's eyelids. Wu Xu was using a torn scrap of clothing to bandage his own fractured left wrist, while Qingzi turned to help him tie the knot. Fresh from a bloody battle, both were at the end of their tether. Yet given the situation at the time, they were the only ones who could chase out from the medical station and still possess the strength to mount a rescue. The sounds of saluting over the vehicle's communicator continued for quite some time. Resting there, it was merely a small black box, but on the other end of that box were tens of thousands of raised arms. Inside the jeep, silence reigned. Han Qingyu returned the salute. Wen Jifei signaled for Han Qingyu to look at his arm, which was covered in goosebumps. He whispered, "I'm suddenly starting to fear that one day I might have to leave Azure." "Then stay right here for the rest of your damn life." So Wen Jifei's words had been heard after all. A slightly aged voice came from the other end of the communicator, followed by the crisp sound of a forceful salute. Without offering words of thanks, he went straight to the point: "There's another lad on your end named Wu Xu, right?" Suddenly hearing his own name, Wu Xu straightened up in the back seat, leaned forward, and looked at Han Qingyu, then at the black communicator, his eyes tinged with confusion. "Yes," Han Qingyu replied. "Mm," the voice acknowledged, and then spoke with solemn gravity: "I hereby announce a direct order from the Headquarters of the Azure Coalition, Huaxia Front, Sole Witness Legion... As of now, Soldier Wu Xu is specially enlisted into our legion's Ninth Army, Regiment 425, Squad 1777." This was an all-sector broadcast. Only at this moment did many listening before their communicators realize that the iron-blooded Azure warrior reported to have fought to the death alongside Han Qingyu was actually not even on the official roster. "Welcome." "Welcome, Wu Xu." "Welcome, little brother." Not many people had speaking privileges, but applause was plenty. Yet Wu Xu himself still seemed a bit unclear on what was happening, or perhaps he didn't quite dare believe it... After thinking for a moment, Wu Xu asked Han Qingyu and Wen Jifei, "Who is he? Does his word carry weight?" Han Qingyu: "..." Why did he suddenly not want to tell him, and feel like laughing instead? Just like him, muffled chuckles broke out across various sectors. "Hahaha..." A hearty burst of laughter resonated from the communicator. "Hello, Wu Xu... My name is Chen Buer. My word is final." In truth, the formal approval procedure was not in Chen Buer's hands, and he had just learned a bit about the specific hurdles involved. But today... this man was his. No one's objection would mean a damn thing. "It's the Legion Commander," Wen Jifei prompted in a whisper. "Oh... thank you." Wu Xu hesitated, then raised his hand. Emulating the gesture he had seen countless times, somewhat clumsily, he gave the very first Azure Coalition salute of his life. "He saluted," Wen Jifei reported. "And I returned it," Chen Buer answered with a laugh. ... Guided by instructions, Han Qingyu switched the communicator to another frequency. "The medical station defense squad has been rescued... though casualties are heavy." "Central area search complete." "Ground forces have completed encirclement and begun sweeps." "..." Military reports arrived non-stop as Azure Coalition troops spread across mountains and plains, taking action. "There is another critical development. Forty-two medical personnel from Medical Station 101 were taken hostage during the initial ambush... and transported away." "..." The announcement made everyone's heart sink at once. "The enemy used one of our trucks, license plate number..." "We're already on our way to rescue them," Han Qingyu chimed in for the first time. Given the current situation, in terms of both heading and distance, they probably stood the best chance. Unless forces closing in from the outside happened to run into the truck and notice something amiss. But if those kidnappers were heading toward the city, the odds of that happening were very slim. "Any sightings?" came an anxious inquiry over the communicator. "Not yet," Han Qingyu replied apologetically. A brief silence followed, and then Chen Buer's voice sounded: "Ground forces will continue sweeping and eliminating enemies. All airborne helicopters are to commence search operations immediately and report any suspicious activity on sight." "What about the city?" "A full-scale sweep." "Understood." ... Due to the appearance of helicopters in the sky and ground forces below, the truck had actually been abandoned long ago. All forty-two medical staff from Medical Station 101 were currently being held beneath a densely wooded cliff, sheltered from any view from above. Ten men were guarding them. These ten did not yet know the exact situation, but Azure's massive search operation had left them jumpy as startled birds, consumed by anxiety. "Actually, you'd better just let us go," Xiao Li said bravely, looking up at the blade in the man's hand. "That's the only way you'll get out alive. Otherwise..." "Shut up!" The blade whistled past, grazing her cheek. "I'm saying this for your own good. Why don't you go outside and see for yourselves?" Xiao Li tilted her head back toward the sky and pressed on. "Like this, how could you ever escape?" "Shut up... As long as I have you lot, I can get out." A bearded man who seemed to be the leader walked over, waved his blade, and sneered, "If worse comes to worst, I'll herd you out and butcher one every li. One li, one corpse. I'll carve my way out all the same." In truth, they were waiting—waiting for Snow Lotus to rendezvous with them. What they didn't know was that backup was never coming. The bearded man suddenly noticed the little girl staring at him with stubborn defiance in her eyes. "Stop looking at me! Stare again and you'll be the first one I kill!" Even though it was just a little girl's gaze, it unnerved him for some reason, making him snap irritably. Xiao Li tilted her head up and kept right on staring. "You're fucking asking for it." The bearded man lunged into the crowd straight toward her, clamping a hand down on her shoulder. Surrounding doctors and nurses rushed forward to protect Xiao Li, keeping her from being dragged away. Chaos erupted instantly. A slice sounded as the blade cut across Xiao Li's thigh. A deep gash reached down to the bone... Blood welled out. "Ugh..." The pain made the young girl cry out instantly. "Shut up, hear me? Another word and this won't be all! I'll slaughter you!" Waving his long blade again, the bearded man threatened. "...Mm." Gritting her teeth against the agonizing pain, the girl nodded weakly, shrank back into the crowd, and ducked her head, not daring to make another move. Out on the clearing beyond the cliff, a hairpin inset with a tiny glass mirror lay wedged between the stones... Moonlight glinted off its surface. *When they find us, I'll have Qingzi and Wu Xu kill every last one of you,* the young girl thought through gritted teeth, seething with hatred. Her friends were formidable.